GRANTHAM, Pa., Saturday, March 26, 2011-- It was a tough day on the diamond for Arcadia Softball, as the Knights dropped two to defending league champions Messiah in today's Commonwealth Conference opener. Messiah's Jess Rhoades was perfect as she no-hit the Knights and tossed 10 K's in the 4-0 opening game win. The Falcons out-hit Arcadia 6-4 in the nightcap to pocket a 3-0 victory. Sophomore Brandee Zablotsky, this week's Commonwealth Player of the Week gave a 2-for-3 effort at the plate in the nightcap, but her team stranded six base runners as Messiah pitcher Jocelyn Hickey fanned eight Knights for the game two victory.   

Junior Kelsey Roberts (4-2) took the game one loss for Arcadia, allowing three earned runs on eight hits.  Roberts faced 29 batters and struck out seven with two walks. Messiah (14-2, 4-0 CC) plated one run in the second and three runs in the third. The only bright spot for the Knight's offense came in the sixth inning when Rhoades gave up her only walk of the afternoon to first-year Leanda Helms with one out away in the top of the sixth but then the crafty pitcher recovered getting senior Ashley McCarthy to pop up before dishing a strikeout to Lindsey Henchinski to end the inning. 

In game two, Zablotsky tried to ignite a spark right off the bat, drilling a double to left center, the Knights' first hit of the day. She would advance to third on a wild pitch from Messiah's game two starter Jocelyn Hickey, but Hickey quickly regained control, getting senior Virginia Buechel swinging to end the inning.  With one out away in the second, sophomore Corrin Showalter singled through the left side but Hickey threw two strikouts to Helms and junior Amy Johnson, stranding Showalter at first to end the inning.  In the fourth, Zablotsky pulled a pitch from Hickey down the left field line, but was caught trying to stretch it into a double on the throw from left field to second. Arcadia's last attempt to produce scoring came in the sixth.  Henchinski was dealt a lead-off walk and went to second on a single down the left field line from Buechel, but with two outs away Hickey got first-year Jess Wood to pop up to end the inning. 

Getting the game two nod from head coach Linda Detra was Wood, who faced 24 batters. She only allowed six hits but the Falcons made the most of their opportunities, scoring three earned runs. Wood dished out one walk and one strikeout and drops to 1-1 overall.

The Knights (9-5, 0-2 CC) return to action at home, hosting Alvernia University at 3 p.m. for their next Commonwealth doubleheader also playing another league doubleheader this Saturday at home hosting Elizabethtown at 1 p.m.